Nurses at risk

As nurses we spend a great deal of time assessing for, and
trying to reduce health and well-being risks that are faced by our patients.On the other hand, how often do we remember
to watch out for ourselves? One study has shown that the rate of occupational
injury and illness for nurses in health care settings is higher than other
fields normally associated with high risks; such as, heavy construction and
mining.There are some risks that we
know go with the job, but on the whole do we understand the risks nurses face
every day?Here are a few things to
consider.

Hepatitis B (HBV)

HBV is widely recognized as an occupational risk for
nurses.Prior to the initiation of wide
spread immunization the rate of HBV among health care workers was 10 times
higher than the general population.Currently, your risk is based on the amount of contact you have with
blood in your work environment and your immunization status.Transmission may occur from a needle, or
other instrument stick, or when contaminated blood invades the body through a
break in the skin, ingestion, or contact with mucous membranes.Saliva, semen and feces can also carry and
transmit the virus.

Without vaccination your chance of contracting HBV from a
contaminated needle stick can be as high as 30%.Vaccination can reduce this number to
approximately 6%.

Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Consider that same needle stick once again.The risk of contracting HIV in this manner is
approximately 0.3%.Exposing your eyes,
nose, mouth or broken skin to HIV infected blood carries a 0.1% risk of
infection.

Back Injury

Back injury is the second most common injury for all
occupations.Approximately 40,000 nurses
report back related injuries each year.Additional risk factors for back injury are female gender, working the
evening shift, and being over-weight.

Tuberculosis

Nurses employed in emergency departments, pulmonary
departments, HIV units, long term care facilities, outpatient clinics and
prisons are at greatest risk for contracting tuberculosis. The patients they
come in contact with are often undiagnosed.

Depression

During their lifetime, 9.6% of nurses will suffer at least
one major depressive episode.

Drug Abuse

Approximately eight out of every 100 nurses are currently,
or have been in the past year, involved in illicit drug use.

Suicide

The average suicide rate for nurses is 0.11 deaths per
1,000. While this may not seem significant, consider that this is higher than
the national average of 0.07.Overall, a
female nurse is four times more likely to commit suicide than other women.

Asthma

A recent study has indicated that nurses have the highest
risk for work-related asthma of any occupation.While the exact causes are unclear, asthma rates were as much as 50%
higher in those nurses who have high exposure levels to disinfectants,
cleansers (including those commonly used for instrument sterilization), and
latex.

Cancer

Nurses who have worked in the field for at least 15 years
have a significantly increased risk for malignant melanoma and rectal cancer.

High exposure to any type of medication causes a 14%
increase in cancer rates.

Nurses exposed to high levels of radiation (at least once a
week for 10 years or more) have a 20% higher rate of breast cancer.

Working as a nurse for 25 years or more increases your risk
for lung cancer and breast cancer, regardless of your level of radiation
exposure.

Despite it all, there is a little good new to be had.So, we’ll end on a positive note.In general, researchers have found that
nurses are 39% more likely to live longer than the general population.We also carry a lower risk for heart disease,
stroke and many forms of cancer in general.

References

Kogevinas, M. et. al. Exposure to substances in the
workplace and new-onset asthma: an international prospective population-based
study (ECRHS-II). The Lancet. 370:336-341, July 28, 2007.

Updated U.S.
Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures
to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. June
29, 2001 / 50(RR11);1-42.

Exposure to Blood: What Healthcare Personnel Need to
Know.Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.July, 2003.

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